Archive for month: August, 2013

A pond that is not fed by a stream of fresh water soon becomes stagnant. Sometimes our offices or our work places can become like such a pond. We live in our space and our minds without any fresh information. Networking is a way to allow some fresh water into our proverbial ponds. With networking we reach beyond the borders of our work life and find new experiences and people who can strengthen our careers and businesses. It takes some effort and a little strategy to network, but the rewards can be great. So what is networking?

Meeting People

This is the primary definition of networking. It’s simple. Networking means taking the time to meet other people. That alone can provide a reason and a motivation for most people. It’s just fun and interesting to meet others. There is much more of a business reason for it than just being social, but being social can be good place to start. We need people in our lives because they are interesting, they know things, and we are tribal at the core of our being. While there is more to networking, this alone is a great reason to do it. We need people.

Filling Our Rolodexes

At least in the old days we filled our Rolodex’s. Now we fill our phone’s contact app. Have you ever met one of those people who as soon as you mention something they say, “I’ve got someone you should meet.” We need be that person in business. People are a great resource and the more people we know, the more resources that we have our disposal. Sometimes the resource is just an ear that is willing to listen to us and show a little interest in us. Sometimes we need to be the contact that someone feels comfortable contacting for the same reason. The larger our contact list, the wider net we cast, and, if done right, the more fish we catch. A strong contact list may not be the answer to all your business needs, but it can be a potent tool.

Getting Outside of Ourselves

In the business world, ideas are gold. It’s easy to get caught up in your own head and go around and around with your own ideas. And they might be perfectly good ideas and your head may be fine place to be, but the view is limited. When we start to talk to other people, we begin to expand our world and find out what other people are thinking and doing. If we’re smart, we’ll see how we can add what other people are doing successfully to our own repertoire. When we start talking with other people, we allow a fresh stream of ideas in to keep our ponds from going stagnant.

Sometimes Others Can Help

It’s probably best to keep this in the background when meeting people. We don’t want to turn them off by appearing opportunistic or needy. But the truth is we need help once in a while. And the wider your community, the more likely you are know someone who can introduce you to other people or give you advice or any number of things another person can do to help. Just remember, these are gifts that these people give you. Make sure to show proper appreciation and return the favour when you can.

Mentoring is a deliberate alliance between two people which has the goal of a more experienced person helping the less experienced colleague grow and develop. Although there may be some teaching involved, it is different from a traditional teacher teaching a student. The mentor does not simply feed the protégé information or train them in skills like he might a student. Some use the word “apprenticeship” when discussing mentoring, but that isn’t exactly right either. The less experienced is not necessarily subservient to the more experienced as apprentice usually are. It’s more of a sharing. The word “relationship” takes a primary role when defining what a mentor is. There is a mutual respect in mentoring. Overall, mentoring is a unique arrangement which escapes exact comparison to any other arrangement. Some of the qualities that make mentoring unique are that they are:

Mentoring is Life Changing

Mentoring is about skill and confidence building. The result of successful mentoring is that the less experienced will become more experienced from the relationship. While there may be some instruction involved, mentoring will create a far more profound change than the mere gaining of knowledge. A professional life will be changed and made better by the experience. A person will enter the relationship at one level of competence but should come out at an entirely new one. Good will become better, and better will become great. The novice or the mediocre employee will experience with the mentor that which they need to shine into the future.

Mentoring Usually Entails Informal Communication

There are usually no rules or curricula involved in mentoring. When a mentor meets with her protégé, they usually meet face-to-face and the time together usually has a spontaneous nature to it. While companies may have a formal mentoring program, that is usually just a method of organising and connecting people. However, more often than not these corporate set-ups usually work like a dating service except the goal is professional growth instead of romance. A mentor is more likely to meet his mentee over coffee or lunch rather than in a conference room or a classroom. There is often no formal agenda other than any agenda the two people involved might create. Rather than being agenda-based, two people who team up might decide to use the time for problem-solving or creating challenges or learning experiences. Or it might just be for simple support.

Mentoring is a Time Commitment

When a person chooses to mentor someone, they commit for the long haul. When a person chooses to be mentored, it’s the same. Mentoring is not about swooping in, fixing something and then swooping out again. Mentoring is not about temporary fixes. It involves each party pledging to nurture significant growth over time.

Mentoring is a Shared Journey

Both parties need to put the right amount of energy into this unique association. Mentoring is a shared journey and recognising that will make the odyssey more productive. If it feels too one-sided, then some of the elements necessary for growth may be missing. Both need to contribute to the process. When one thinks of mentoring, it’s easy to think of the protégé as gaining from the relationship. But the mentor also gains. Helping a colleague and passing on important parts of his craft is satisfying. And, as a bonus, sometimes a fresh perspective from somebody new to a field can add something wonderful to a seasoned career. The focus of mentoring is the mentor helping the mentee. However, like with any sincere altruism, one gains plenty from the act of giving. Both people share in the benefits.